spot_imgspot_img
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

PRES. WEAH REFUSES TO FIRE FDA BOSS DESPITE PRESSURE FROM US, EU, UK AND NORWAY

Date:

Despite mounting pressure from the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Norway to clean up the Liberian forestry agency (FDA) for corruption, a report has suggested that President George Weah has since refused.

The pressure of these countries is based on mounting accusations of systematic wrongdoings in the Liberian Forestry Industry.

An independent investigation into logging in the Liberian rainforest found illegal operations “on a significant scale,” with multiple missteps or breaches of law by the government agency charged with protecting those forests, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Associated Press.

The report was completed in 2020 but has never been made public despite activists’ calls to publish its findings, which included a recommendation that President George Weah order a special inquiry into what went wrong.

Four sources familiar with the report said Weah, who appointed the forestry agency’s head, has ignored repeated calls from European Union, United States and United Kingdom ambassadors to act in response to the report.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations without fear of retaliation.

  • Save
Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), C. Mike Doryen

Four official sources close to the case told The AP that Liberia has brushed off diplomatic pressure over more than 18 months to address problems in rainforest oversight.

In July 2021, EU and U.K. ambassadors wrote a letter to Liberia’s Minister for Presidential Affairs with demands including prosecution of offenders working for the company or the government and a ban on Renaissance.

There was no reply until March 2022 and those actions were not taken. The EU’s letter also called for the restoration of the rule of law in Liberia’s forestry sector.

The official sources said concerns were raised in person with Weah by an EU commissioner last February during an African Union summit, and again in September at a Monrovia meeting attended by several diplomats. In each case, Weah said he knew nothing about the investigation, the official sources said.

In a phone interview with AP recently, Weah denied that he had been repeatedly made aware of problems in oversight of the Liberian rainforest. But later in the interview, he appeared to acknowledge getting a letter of concern from EU and U.K. ambassadors and said he had organized a meeting on the issue.

“Whatever letter that came, I organized a meeting,” he said.

Liberia is West Africa’s most forested country, with rainforests covering some two-thirds of the small nation.

It’s home to endangered forest elephants, pygmy hippos and western chimpanzees. Since 2000, some 22% of the nation’s tree cover has been lost to deforestation, largely due to pressure from logging and small farms.

After the illegal logging of $3 million in tropical hardwoods in Grand Bassa County by a company called the Renaissance Group Inc. was discovered in 2018, Liberia’s Ministry of Justice commissioned a forensic investigation by international experts. The probe included the role played by Liberia’s forests agency, the Forestry Development Authority.

Investigators highlighted five illegalities by FDA, which is partially funded by the United States, European Union and United Kingdom. A “major failure” was its management’s “persistent tendency” to make “unlawful decisions in assessing the severity of offenses,” according to the report.

The FDA’s managing director, Mike Doryen, was appointed by Weah, who was a former top professional soccer player before he turned to politics. Under Doryen, the agency authorized the export of illegal timber, “apparently bypassing regulations,” investigators found. Extensions to the concession — the right to use the land — were “arbitrary” and “illegal.” In one “highly irregular” transaction, payment was made to an unusual FDA bank account, according to the report.

When alarm over the environmental destruction came to light, FDA fined Renaissance just $5,000, “a small fraction” of what the company gained through the unlawful activity. Although that was increased to $105,000 after criticism from a Swiss monitor, the correct penalty under a 2006 law aimed at sustaining Liberia’s forests would have been a $1.85 million fine and possible prison sentences, investigators said.

Even after Renaissance admitted illegal logging, Doryen approved more export permits, a “gross breach of duty.”

Doryen did not respond to AP requests for comment. But a written response from the FDA to the EU last November blamed problems on “challenges of the past,” insisting no illegal logging rights had been granted.

The FDA has taken corrective actions on several incidents of illicit logging, it said, and two FDA technical managers were fired for complacency.

The report urged the launch of a special presidential committee so FDA management could “explain their actions.” There is no evidence such a committee has been launched, and it was not in a list of presidential committees active in the last five years as of July 2022. Both Weah and his press secretary, Smith Toby, declined to say whether one had been created since then.

Weah told The AP that claims he’d repeatedly been made aware of donor countries’ concerns were “nonsense.”

Asked why Doryen was still heading the FDA despite the report’s findings, he said, “If someone has offended, the law has to take its course.”

In an interview, Laurent Delahousse, the EU’s ambassador to Liberia, declined to criticize Weah directly. But he said the EU wants assurances that illegal logging will end, and that government bodies will operate to the highest ethical and legal standards.

“It’s a condition for us to be able to invest European taxpayer money into this sector,” Delahousse said.

Gemma Tillack, of the nonprofit Rainforest Action Network, said by email such illegal logging, and lax oversight, was “all too common” and “sadly tolerated” by governments.

More investment is needed to tackle such malfeasance, which is driving destruction of precious rainforests, she said.

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S WHEELBARROW REMARK EXPOSES HYPOCRISY AMID MODAD’S $96,000 VEHICLE SCANDAL

MONROVIA – President Joseph Boakai’s declaration, "I can ride...

FORMER FINANCE MINISTER TWEAH FACES ARREST AS STATE CHALLENGES $8 MILLION BOND AMID MAJOR CORRUPTION TRIAL

MONROVIA – Former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah's legal troubles...

EYEWITNESS REPORT IN THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF EMMANUEL BARTEN NYESWA

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The mysterious death of Emmanuel Barten...

BOAKAI’S MISPLACED AMBITIONS AS LIBERIA BLEEDS AND THE PRESIDENT COURTS GLOBAL VANITY

Eight months into his presidency, Joseph Boakai’s administration is...

TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MPOX – STAY ALERT, STAY PROTECTED

As Liberia confronts the resurgence of Mpox, the confirmation...

NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HIGH SALARIES OF BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AMID ECONOMIC STRUGGLES

In the midst of Liberia's current economic struggles, revelations...

LIBERIA’S POLITICAL CRISIS: A CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AMID ESCALATING TENSIONS

The recent clash between the Coalition for Democratic Change...

COMMENTARY

THE MASS DISMISSAL OF LIBERIAN PUBLIC SERVANTS: A TROUBLING TREND UNDER THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION

A Commentary by Wondah L. Jah Since assuming the presidency,...

SECURITY RISKS: IS PRESIDENT BOAKAI UNKNOWINGLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR EARLY COUP D’ÉTAT?

In his commentary, Liberian political analyst Vandalerk R. Patricks...

IS JOSEPH BOAKAI LISTENING TO PROTESTS AROUND AFRICA?

A Commentary By Wondah L. Jah In January, Joseph Boakai,...

LATEST NEWS

DR. ROBTEL NEAJAI PAILEY: REIMAGINING LIBERIA’S FUTURE ON ITS 177TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – As Liberia approaches its 177th Independence...

TELIA UREY UNDER ATTACK FOR MAKING ‘ANTI-JOE BOAKAI STATEMENT’

MONROVIA - Barely a day after her denigrating comments...

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

AMID AN UNENDING WAR AGAINST POVERTY, INJUSTICES – HAS THE PROGRESSIVE STRUGGLE BECOME LOST IN TRANSLATION?

A Patriot's Diary With Ekena Wesley What manner of Liberian progressives...

HAS PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S GOVERNMENT BEGUN BEARING GOOD FRUITS? (PART1)

By Jacob N.B. Parley Following a careful reflection, I have...

ELEVATING THE AG BIBLE COLLEGE TO A UNIVERSITY: A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

By Jacob N.B. Parley After many years of successful preaching...

THE DILEMMA OF PRESIDENTIAL SUPREMACY IN LIBERIA: EXAMINING THE BALANCE OF POWER

By Dr. Clarence R. Pearson, Sr. Superior presidency is the...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link